How do geographers categorize settlement names and natural-feature names when studying place-names?

In the field of toponymy—the taxonomic study of place-names—geographers and linguists categorize place-names into two primary divisions based on their function and the nature of the locality:1

Habitation Names

These denote localities that are peopled or inhabited, such as towns, villages, or homesteads. These names typically originate at the time of the locality's inception and often reflect the history of human settlement and ownership.1

Feature Names

These refer to the natural or physical characteristics of the landscape. They are further subdivided into three specific categories:1
* Hydronyms: Names for water features.
* Oronyms: Names for relief features (such as mountains).
* Vegetation names: Names identifying areas of natural growth, such as glades, meadows, or groves.

Both habitation and feature names are composed of a generic element (the class of the place, such as "river" or "town") and a specific element (which modifies or restricts the meaning). The linguistic structure of these names—specifically whether the specific element precedes or follows the generic—often reveals the cultural and linguistic history of the region's settlers.1